College football is officially BACK, and you know what that means: it’s time for some ridiculously bold predictions from the guys who live and breathe this stuff. Brad Crawford and Chris Hummer from CBS Sports are already putting their reputations on the line for Week 0, dropping their picks for some massive matchups. These two have been at it for a decade, learning firsthand that predicting results against the spread can humble anyone by Saturday night. They’re diving right into the deep end with FanDuel Sportsbook odds, and trust me, there are some strong opinions here.
TCU vs. North Carolina: Can the Frogs Leap Past the Tar Heels?
First up, we’ve got North Carolina facing off against TCU, with the Horned Frogs favored by 7.5 points. Chris Hummer is all in on TCU covering that spread. He’s calling it TCU 31, North Carolina 20. Hummer admits it’s easy to dunk on UNC after last season, but he sees value in the Tar Heels, noting they got better as the 2025 campaign went on and have more talent than folks think. Still, he knows exactly what he’s getting from TCU: an experienced roster with a clear identity on offense and defense. He doesn’t expect a blowout like last year’s 48-14 TCU win, but he’s confident they’ll cover.
Brad Crawford? He’s also riding with TCU -7.5, predicting a final score of TCU 31, North Carolina 17. Crawford flags the classic international game struggles like sluggish starts and communication issues. What magnifies those problems? Both teams are breaking in new centerpieces at quarterback. TCU’s got Harvard transfer Jaden Craig, and Billy Edwards is at the controls for the Tar Heels. Crawford thinks Bobby Petrino will eventually get North Carolina’s offense humming, but asking for everything to click immediately is a huge ask. He expects TCU’s defense to control the game’s tempo and absolutely capitalize on UNC’s early growing pains. Sounds like a tough road for the Tar Heels right out of the gate.
ACC Battle Royale: NC State at Virginia
Then we swing to the ACC for a barn burner: NC State at Virginia, with the Cavaliers favored by 5.5 points. Chris Hummer is actually taking NC State +5.5 here, calling for an upset with a 24-21 NC State win. He’s hyped for this “heck of an ACC opener,” pointing out both teams have conference championship aspirations. Hummer notes Virginia’s rough history in this series, with the Wolfpack winning the last four matchups dating back to 2018. The real kicker for him is NC State bringing back a high-level QB in CJ Bailey. That’s where he sees the value: the Wolfpack’s experience on offense and in the secondary. Winning on the road in Week 1 is always tough, but Hummer thinks NC State is totally set up to pull it off.
Brad Crawford is also on the NC State +5.5 train. He acknowledges the Wolfpack will be a trendy pick on the moneyline, but he’s “hesitant.” It seems like he might be leaning towards Virginia despite the spread, but the article cuts off before he can spill all the tea. Talk about a cliffhanger!
So there you have it, Week 0 is kicking off with some serious takes. These guys are putting their reputations out there, celebrating the wins and owning every bad beat. It’s all about profitability, sure, but the reality is pure accountability. We’ll be watching to see how these early season predictions shake out!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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